Machine for forming bodies from successive layers of pulp



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

H. FAIRBANKS & H. PARKER. MAGHINE FOR FORMING BODIES FROM SUOGESSIVE LAYERS 0P PULP.

No. 408,092. Patented July 30, 1889'.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. FAIRBANKS & H; PARKER. MACHINE FOR FORMING BODIES FROM SUOGESSIVE LAYERS 0F PULP.

N0. 408.092; Patented July 30, 1889.

(No Model.)

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UNITED ST TES l arnivr @rrrcn.

HENRY FAIRBANKS AND HOWVARD PARKER, OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BODIES FROM SUCCESSIVE LAYERS OF PULP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 408,092, dated July 30, 1889.

Application filed December 24, 1888. Serial No. 294,530. (No model) To all 107110121 it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY FAIRBANKS and HOWARD PARKER, of St. Johnsbury, in the county of Caledonia and State of Vermont, have invented new Improvements in Machines for Forming Bodies from Successive Layers of Pulp; and we dohereby declare the following, when taken in connection with ac companyin g drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side view of the machine 3 Fig. 2, a top view of the same on a reduced scale; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section through the couch-roll; Fig.

5, a modification.

This invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for forming bodies of pulp, and in which the pulp is applied in successive layers, and particularly to that class of apparatus in which the successive layers of pulp are wound upon a roll, cylindrical or conical, as the case may be, and so that when the requisite thickness is attained the combined layers may be removed, either from the roll in cylindrical or conical shape, or cut longitudinally and removed in the "form of asheet, the object being a-simple and compact construction of machine, and in which the work of combining several successive layers may be rapidly performed; and the invention consists in the construction of the machine, as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly recited in the claims.

A represents what is called the mold-roll, which works in the vat of pulp, but the roll arranged so as to dip into the pulp in the vat to a greater or less extent. This roll is perforated or made porous, so that the water in the vat may work through the surface to the interior of the roll, from whence it is drawn off in the usual manner; or it may be drawn off in the same manner as hereinafter provided for exhausting from the couch-roll. The flow of water from the pulp-vat through the surface of the mold-roll causes the pulp to adhere to its surface. This roll is caused to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow.

B is the couch-roll, which is supported upon an axle parallel with the axis of the moldroll-that is, when the rolls are cylindrical; but if the rolls are conical, as hereinafter provided, the axes will be in such relation to each other that the adjacent surfaces of the rolls may be parallel.

The couch-roll B is supported in bearings C, but so that its periphery will rest upon the periphery of the mold-roll A. The bearings C are in the form of bifurcated brackets, the gudgeons D of the roll restingin the brackets, but so as to allow a limited amount of horizontal play of the gudgeons, as and for the purpose hereinafterdescribed. The brackets are hung upon a pivot a, so that they may swing in a vertical plane, in order that the couch-roll may have freedom to move up and down when in operation. The couch-roll B is hollow and its surface perforated, as shown, and is preferably covered with one or more thicknesses of cloth orother suitable fibrous material, through which air or water may freely pass. Through th'e'tubular gudgeons D an axle E is "introduced-, a :hich is also tubular and bent downward, so that the portion F of the axle lies close upon the lower surface of the interior of the couch-roll. The axle E is supported through the gudgeon, so that it may not partake of the revolution of the couch-roll, but yet may move with that gudgeon as the roll is moved toward or from the mold-roll A, or as it slides in its bearings. This axle F is perforated, and a pump (not shown) is applied to one or both ends of the axle by means of a flexible tube, so as to exhaust the air or water, if any there be, from the couch-roll B. If the exhaust be made only from one end of the axle, then the other end is closed.

G represents the press-roll, which is solid and presents a metal (preferably iron) surface, and is supported in bearings H, and so that its surface runs in contact with the couchroll 13, but without contact with the mold-roll A, as shown. The couch-roll B is yieldingly held in contact with the surface of the pressroll G by weighted levers Leach having a band J connected thereto, which lie upon the respective gudgeons of the couch-roll, and so that the tendency of the weight through the band upon the gudgeons is to force it toward the roll G, but yet yield so that the couch-roll may reced'e from the roll G as the layers of pulp accumulate on the press-roll G.

As the mold-roll rcvolvessay in the direction indicated by the arrow-itimparts a corresponding surface travel to the couch-roll B, and the couch-roll in its turn working in contact with the press-roll G would impart rotation to that roll G; but we prefer to connect the roll G with the mold-roll by a band, as shown, so that the roll G may be driven directly from the moldroll. This permits imparting to the surface of the press-roll G a velocity somewhat greater than the velocity of the couch-roll, as more fully hereinafter described.

In operation, the mold-roll, revolving, takes upon its surface, as before described, a coating of pulp, which is carried upon its surface until that coating reaches the couch-roll B. Then the suction from the inside of the couchroll causes the coating of pulp on the moldroll to adhere to the couch-roll, and thus be taken from the mold-roll, and so continuing the couch-roll will take the pulp from the mold-roll. The exhaustion from the inside of the couch-roll sucks the water from the pulp and draws air through the pulp into the roll, thus to a considerable extent drying the pulp as the couch-roll revolves. The coating of pulp thus taken upon the couch-roll continues upon the surface of the couch-roll until the press-roll G is reached, and the pulp, having been dried to a sufficient extent, will readily adhere to the metal surface of the press-roll, and then under the revolution of the pressroll the pulp is wound thereon. The revolution of the rolls continuing, the winding of the thin coating of pulp continues, forming successive layers upon the press-roll until the desired thickness is attained, and when that thickness is attained, if it be for a sheet of pulp, the pulp thuslaid upon the press-roll is cut longitudinally and removed from the roll, as in the form of asheet composed of more or less number of layers of pulp, according to the thickness required. If, however, the layers of pulp are desired to be retained in the cylindrical shape, as for the manufacture of hollow articles, the roll is removed or the bear ing from. one end removed, and the pulp which has been wound upon the roll is removed from that 'free end of the roll.

In some cases it is desirable to wind the pulp into conical shape. In that case the several rolls are made of corresponding conical shape, so as to give the same surface travel, the press-roll being of the required size and shape for the conical winding. This is Well understood in this class of manufacture and does not require illustration.

As the, layers of pulp on the press-roll G increase, the couch-roll is thereby forced from the press-roll, the yielding support of the gudgeons of the couch-roll permitting such retreat of the couch-roll but the couch-roll is always held against the press-roll with the same degree of pressure. The press-roll, be-

ing driven in dependent of the couchroll, may be given a little greater surface velocity than that of the couch-roll, so that a slight draft will be made upon the pulp as it passes onto the press-roll, thus stretching the pulp to a slight extent and insuring its being laid close upon the press-roll.

The couch-roll is preferably provided with a revolving brush K, which runs in contact with the surface of the couch-roll, so as to remove therefrom any fiber which may adhere thereto after the transfer of its coating to the roll G, and before the surface of the couchroll shall be again presented to the mold-roll for a further coating.

Preferably a perforated tube L is arranged to throw jets of water upon the brush to clear the brush, and below the brush a trough M is arranged to conduct away the water thus thrown from the brush and prevent its dropping upon the-mold-roll below.

An india-rubber or elastic pressure-roller N may be arranged to work upon the surface of the couch-roll between the brush and the moldroll, the tendency of which will be to press the water from the covering of the couch-roll, so as to leave it in the best condition to take the pulp from the moldroll. Under this construetionof machine the successive layers are presented to the press-roll in the best condition for the proper adhesion of the successive layers.

The use or treatment of the pulp after it has been removed from the press-roll would be in accordance with the purpose for which it is employed, and as usually employed in the manufacture of sheets or articles from pulp.

The particular construction of the surface of the couch-roll is immaterial, as before suggested, except that it shall present a perforated or porous surface, and combined with means within the roll to produce a strong draft or suction through the surface of the roll inward. v

The couclrroll may be adapted to operate both as a mold-roll and a couch-roll by making it of larger diameter, as seen in Fig. 5, and arranging it in the vat so as to just dip into the pulp, so that the exhaust upon the inside will cause the pulp in the vat to adhere thereto and a coating be taken up as the roll revolves, as indicated by arrow. The press-roll G in this case is arranged as near the surface of the pulp as it conveniently may be, and upon the side of the couch-roll oppo-.

site that which comes from the pulp, so as to give time for a suflicient drying of the pulp before it reaches the press-roll, and when it reaches the press-roll it will be taken off, as before described.

lVhile it is the particular design of this machine to wind the pulp onto the press-roll in successive layers, the press-roll may be employed to simply take therlayer of pulp from the couch-roll, and that single layer be stripped from the press-roll without winding thereon. This will deliver the pulp from the IIO machine in a thin sheet for subsequent treatment for any purpose desired.

1.- In a machine for making pulp into sheets or cylinders, the combination of a pulp-vat, a mold-roll arranged with a portion of its surface dipping into the vat of pulp, a couchroll, the surface of which runs in contact with said mold-roll, the couch-roll presenting a porous surface in contact with the mold roll, an exhaust applied to the interior of the couclrroll through one or both the gudgeons,

and a press-roll, the said press-roll and couchroll held in yielding contact, whereby the said rolls are permitted to separate, but still held under pressure toward each other, substantially as and for the purpose described.

The combination of a pulp-vat, the moldroll A, having a porous surface adapted to dip into said vat, a hollow couch-roll B, pre senting a porous surface and so as to run in contact with said mold-roll A, a tubular axle extending through the hollow gudgeons of the couch-roll and bent down within the couch-roll, so as to stand stationary at the lowest point in the couch-roll, the said tubular axle within the couch-roll perforated and provided with a suitable exhaust, whereby an inward current may be produced through the porous surface of the couch-roll, and a press-roll G, arranged to run in substantial contact with the surface of the couch-roll, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the pulp-vat, the mold-roll A, the hollow porous surface conchroll B, arranged to run in contact with the surface of the mold-roll A, the gudgeons of the said couch-roll hollow and provided with an exhaust from the inside of the roll, the. press-roll G, and the pressure-roll N, substantially as and for the purpose described.

at. In a machineforforminglayers of paperpulp, the combination of aperforated hollow roll adapted to receive a layer of pulp upon its surface, a hollow axle running through one of the gudgeons of the roll, bent down upon the inside of the roll, so as to lie close upon the lowest point of the interior of the roll, the said hollow axle open near the said lower surface of the roll, and in connection with an exhaust, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a machine for forming layers of pulp,

the combination of a hollow roll presenting a perforated surface adapted to receive a layer of pulp upon its said surface, a hollow axle extending into said roll and bent down within the roll to substantially the lowest point therein and open at such point into the roll, with means, substantially such as described, to produce exhaust through said hollow axle, and a press-roll presenting a hard surface arranged to work in contact with the said perforated roll and adapted to receive'a layer of pulp from the said perforated roll, substantially as described.

HENRY FAIRBANKS. HOWARD PARKER. Witnesses for H. Fairbanks:

R. P. FAIRBANKS, C. FAIRBANKS. \Vitnesses for H. Parker: OSBORNE CHASE, N. PARKER. 

